Flathead Forest seeking input on extensive road system

The Flathead National Forest will host an open house to gather input on its road system at the Supervisor’s Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, in Kalispell on Tuesday, July 8, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Forest officials say they “expect to maintain an appropriately sized and environmentally sustainable road system that is responsive to ecological, economic and social concerns” and the road system of the future “must continue to provide access for recreation and resource management, as well as support watershed restoration and resource protection to sustain healthy ecosystems.

The Forest Service says its travel analysis process is a science-based approach used to inform future road-related travel management decisions. Its travel analysis report documents a broad-scale analysis that encompasses all existing Forest System Roads on the Flathead Forest.

“The travel analysis is not a proposal or decision, but is intended to help inform possible future road management planning,” Flathead Forest supervisor Chip Weber said. “We will need public input to inform the analysis, but this will not be a formal public comment process. Before any projects are implemented on the ground, the public will have an opportunity to comment through the National Environmental Policy Act process.”

Forest planners are seeking public input to help identify risks and benefits they may have missed as well as to provide feedback on the process used to analyze the road system.

“Nearly everyone who uses the National Forest will be affected by possible future road management decisions, making it important to work together today to identify a sustainable road system,” Forest officials say.

An interactive mapping tool reflecting the initial results of the analysis is available online at www.fs.usda.gov/flathead and is the primary tool for providing public input.

Inputs will be accepted through July 31. A hard-copy of the maps which capture the results of the analysis area are available at the Swan Lake, Hungry Horse and Tally Lake ranger district offices.